Wong Yuanshan, a candidate for the Legislative Council Election Committee, believes that although the government proposes a vision for the northern metropolitan area and the development of innovation and technology, although it has a direction, it lacks specific industrial policies and substantive indicators; the number of public and private units completed in the government's Long-term Housing Strategy It often fails to meet the standards. In the past eight years, "13.5 Rainbow Villages have been reduced," but there are no consequences at all. I think the government must review the accountability situation.
Huang Yuanshan explained to the media his views on the development and housing policies of the northern metropolitan area.
(Photo by Lin Jian)
The northern metropolitan area may be smaller than expected
Huang Yuanshan mentioned that after in-depth study of the government’s "Northern Metropolis Development Strategy" and "Hong Kong 2030+", there are new observations. The government claims that the total area of the northern metropolitan area is 30,000 hectares, but in fact, more than 20% of it is sea. , 6% of the existing new towns, after deducting other country parks, unsuitable areas, etc., in fact, only about 600 hectares of additional land can be added in total. This figure is also mentioned in the "2030+", "scale It may be smaller than everyone thinks."
He said that the government mentioned in the "2030+" that between 2019 and 2048, the overall land demand is estimated to be about 5,800 to 6,200 hectares. This is more aggressive than before, but it is still not enough.
He pointed out that previous research reports of the united Hong Kong Fund, the think tank, mentioned that about 9,000 hectares is a reasonable figure.
According to the latest government estimates, together with the northern metropolitan area, the potential future land supply is about 7,300 hectares. Huang Yuanshan hopes that the government can find more land supply in the future.
He pointed out that these lands should not be pieced together, but integrated with the concepts of "urbanization" and "urbanization," including comprehensive planning.
Encourage the government to think about specific GDP and tax targets for innovation and technology
More importantly, Huang Yuanshan mentioned that a complete metropolitan area must have complete industrial supporting facilities. Since the government hopes to develop a pattern of "southern finance and northern innovation and technology", the total economic volume and economic activity of the new northern metropolitan area It should be able to complement each other with Central, thereby driving government taxation.
He gave an example: "In the Mainland, the Luohu District alone has an annual GDP of more than 300 billion yuan. How much tax is reasonable for the government to raise each year? This is the first question to be asked in the northern metropolitan area. The government does not currently have it. This goal. Biotechnology accounts for 5% of Singapore’s GDP and Shanghai’s 10%. If you want Hong Kong’s biotechnology industry to be as developed as these places, it will cost 100 billion, or even 200,300 billion a year. Additional output value."
Huang Yuanshan pointed out that the current government’s important limitation is that it has never had a complete industrial policy. It has only some general directions, such as "One District, Two Parks" and the Loop, which focuses on biotechnology, but it lacks a more detailed timetable and roadmap when implemented. , A more specific focus is needed. For example, Singapore will tend to attract the largest pharmaceutical factories from all over the world to do research and development work; Shanghai will focus on attracting pharmaceutical factories to set up production lines. "Hong Kong has never had an industrial policy, or say: The lack of government leadership, promotion, (industrial economy) examples and experience from scratch."
Huang Yuanshan specifically mentioned a phenomenon. The Baishijiao Science Park has many start-ups and outstanding "unicorn" companies, but they can still do better and bigger. In particular, there are many funds willing to invest in biotechnology in Central, but many times. These funds do not fall on companies in need. "The actual "distance" between Central and Tai Po is far greater than the distance on the journey."
He pointed out that investment is of course chasing returns, and returns depend on the prospects of the company and the potential for growth. The government needs to design corresponding systems to allow start-ups to give full play to their advantages. For example, the Loop is developed with the concept of "one zone and two parks". Is it possible to have some "joint policy packages" to promote common development. For example, allowing companies to enter the Hong Kong Loop is equivalent to entering the mainland. "Industrial policies are actually institutional breakthroughs, but they are currently stuck in these systems."
▼Development of New Territories North in the 2021 Policy Address▼
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Lag about the backwardness of housing construction: 5 years ago, it was top-light and today is top-light and foot-heavy
In addition, Huang Yuanshan pointed out that the northern metropolitan area is a long-term construction, and in terms of the "2030+" classification, it is also a "medium to long-term" potential land supply project.
However, in the short to medium term, he believes that the progress of government housing construction is seriously lagging behind, the housing problem is dire, and the waiting time for public housing has reached 6 years. For example, the Solidarity Hong Kong Fund has conducted research and the number of public housing production in Hong Kong in the past 8 years has been less than the target. There are about 100,000 units, which is equivalent to 1.6 Taikoo Shing and 13.5 Choi Hung Village. "Five years ago, the government would say "head is light and foot is heavy." Now that it is "foot," it continues to say "head is light and foot is heavy."
He mentioned that the government expects that in the next five years there will be about 180,90,000 units completed in public and private sectors, an average of more than 30,000 units per year, but after calculations, to recover the previous backward figures, an additional 120,000 units will be needed. In other words, there are more than 300,000 in total, an average of 60,000 per year.
If it can be done, the waiting time for public housing can be shortened from 6 years to 3.7 years. However, the main premise is that the government can really break down the walls and loosen the slogan.
Huang Yuanshan pointed out that the time for a piece of land to change from raw land to reclaimed land and then to formally build houses is obviously shortened. It is necessary to speed up the process of recycling and clearing the land, lamenting that the government has many potential housing land in the past because of some inexplicable administrative reasons. procrastination.
He cited an example. At the junction of Song Wong Terrace Road and To Kwa Wan Road in Ma Tau Kok, there is a transitional housing project of about 100 units, but the site itself is planned to be used for the construction of high-density public housing, providing about 800 to 900 However, because there is an AFCD’s Kowloon Animal Management Center that cannot be moved there, the entire plot cannot be developed and can only be used for a short period of time. As a result, the construction of the house has been delayed for several years; when the transitional housing period ends, by then It may be necessary to re-discuss the use of the entire land.
He described the case as "embarrassing": "This is clearly prepared and well planned, and all the ownership is owned by the government. However, because a small part of the facilities cannot be moved, the entire land is placed here to bask in the sun. The high density becomes what it is now."
Rhetorically asked why no one is held accountable for substandard housing
Finally, Huang Yuanshan raised a more realistic question, saying that Changce Housing’s goal has provided KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) for the government’s housing supply. However, in view of the failure to meet the standards for many years, there is no accountability.
"Houses have KPIs, and there are no consequences for failing to achieve this goal? The problem in the north (metropolitan area) is that there are no KPIs; houses have KPIs, but they cannot be implemented."
He mentioned that it may be difficult to identify a problematic department during the entire process of delay, because everyone is "working with procedures", but this often leads to delays in housing construction: "Can the government not do it? In fact, it can be done. Yes, these procedures for demolishing walls and loosening bindings are actually reviewed one by one, but there is always a coordinator. Take the case of To Kwa Wan just now as an example. Did anyone do something wrong in the process? Maybe not, everyone. They are all following the procedures, but because they follow the procedures and the lack of public housing supply, do they have to be responsible?" However, Huang Yuanshan refused to name individual officials, saying only that the current chairman of the Housing Authority is a bureau secretary. It is the responsibility of the government."
If you refuse to answer, if you are invited, will you be appointed as an official: continue to serve the original intention of the public
When asked whether he would agree if he was invited by the government to join an official in the future, Huang Yuanshan said that he would stick to the original aspiration that he had always served in the United Hong Kong Fund for the past 6 years, caring for the society, and continuing to serve the public through understanding and listening. Hypothetical questions will not be answered.
He said that he would continue his policy research work, focusing on macro-development strategy initiatives and systemic policy issues.
Huang Yuanshan is a candidate for the Legislative Council Election Committee. For the list of candidates from all sectors,
please click here to refer to the "Hong Kong 01" election website.
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